International fashion brands Massimo Dutti and Oysho will make their Malta debut at Tigné's The Point, the 14,000-square metre shopping mall which opens in late March.
The brands will be launched on the local market by Big Bon Group which is to open separate stores at the mall for six brands in total, including Pull and Bear, Mango, Stradivarius and Mayoral.
Occupying almost 2,000 square metres of retail space, Big Bon Group is set to be The Point's third largest tenant. The six stores involve a total investment of €3 million and create up to 40 new jobs. Five managers, assistant managers and window dressers are soon to travel overseas for brand training before the stores' opening.
A global high street staple with 494 stores in 41 countries, Massimo Dutti offers basic, contemporary styles in formal wear for men and women. The brand gives particular importance to in-store personalised assistance to customers.
Founded 10 years ago and currently boasting 387 stores in 23 countries, Oysho stocks fashion lingerie, intimate wear, loungewear and accessories.
Massimo Dutti and Oysho are part of the Inditex group, whose other brands Zara, Zara Home, Pull and Bear, Bershka, and Stradivarius Big Bon Group already represent in Malta.
Mango, one of the first fashion concepts to be introduced locally 16 years ago, has proven to be a runaway success with consumers. The Sliema store for Pull and Bear, the brand Big Bon brought to Malta 18 months after Mango, will move to The Point.
Mayoral, Spain and Portugal's leading brand for children's wear and one of the most important groups specialised in children's fashion wear in Europe, will get its first dedicated local store at The Point.
With the addition of the two new brands to its portfolio, Big Bon Group's fashion retail arm now targets all segments in the apparel market, group director Mario Gauci told The Times Business.
The group has been in business for 70 years with interests in a diverse range of sectors; its joinery business Carmelo Delia is also involved in the group's shop fittings at The Point.
At The Point, part of the Tigné Point development, Big Bon aimed to adhere as much as possible to Inditex's policy of grouping its brands located within complex. Mr Gauci explained that this was the first time the group was able to amply meet Inditex's preferred measurements for shopfloor footprint.
Mr Gauci said Inditex's brands were particularly favoured by Maltese customers because products were perfectly suited to Mediterranean fashion sense, culture and climates.
"New consignments for all brands are delivered every fortnight to satisfy demand," general manager Mario Camilleri added. "There are three fundamental elements which makes these brands so successful - constant style updates, accessible pricing, and high quality. These brands' positioning at The Point will not affect value. Like Inditex, we too strive to pass on as much value to consumers as we can."
Big Bon Group's six stores at The Point bring its total number of outlets across the country to 22 with a staff complement of 200.
The group aims to increase its retail presence in Malta's main commercial areas - Valletta, Sliema, Birkirkara and Paola. Future plans include stores for Massimo Dutti and Oysho in Valletta where the group has stores for four brands within the Brittannia Centre and the Embassy complex.
Despite the recession, customers have continued to flock to Big Bon-run stores, Mr Gauci pointed out.
"Fashion retail turnover during the past 12 months was constant - it was not as bad as people anticipated," he said.
"Big Bon Group continued to invest while retaining its pricing strategy and constantly seeking to offer quality products to consumers."